The Dink Network

This question is for all the Dmod authors out there. Where do you guys come up with your storylines? Where do you get your inspiration from? I will be making a Dmod eventually and I'm having a hard time coming up with a plot. So I was just wondering what you guys do when you are thinking up a story.

So you need a story? If that's so I can help you That is exacly I wans looking for. So you want me to write you a story I can do that.

well I wouldn't mind hearing your idea. I might try and come up with my own though for my first Dmod. I just wanted a push in the right direction. E-mail it to me if you want.

OK. give me 1-2 days.

The best way to find inspiration is to pursue your interests. Say you're deeply interested in Werewolves and fantasy books. Find a fantasy book that has werewolves in it and see how the person wrote it and how they used Werewolves in the story.

On a side note, my inspiration for my book that I hope to get published soon (Fingers crossed!) came from an unlikely place. I was reading the book Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis and I got to the point where a character was turned into a dragon and the picture of a half human, half dragon creature came to mind. It's kind of ironic because while C.S. Lewis was writing his books, the picture of a lion came to him for out of the blue and that became the character Aslan.

Inspiration is just what your heart tells you, when you boil it down to a point.

By the way do you really think werewolfs are real?

Hmm, I just watch a lot of movies, read a lot of books and play a lot of games. I get inspired quite a lot. The hard thing is realizing when your ideas suck or are just not the best you can do. Don't always go with your first idea, but try refining it before you're satisfied. And if you can't refine it to something even better than your first idea, chances are your first idea was empty to begin with

And also, be very careful that "inspiration" doesn't turn out to be "copying" from something you just played/read/watched.

The only thing I can advise that Kyle already didn't say is that remember that a story that isn't completely new or has been used already is not necessarily bad. You can always use a very basic story as the main plot, and eventually when the time passes, make up more and more stuff into it, and in no time you find yourself having written a story that would need two Pilgrim's Quests to fill it.

I've came up with many good story ideas while I wasn't really looking for them.

You can't really "force" inspiration. If you sit down and try to focus on coming up with an interesting story, chances are no matter how much you try, you'll end up with nothing, or something totally mediocre.

I find that impatience isn't the answer here. Having an open mind (not being too critical of your ability to came up with ideas, not being afraid to call some ideas bad and so on) rather is. Or perhaps you knew all this already?

A little oftopic:
I'm really excited to play your dmod synbi, I really don't know what to expect.

Hey, admins, when do we normal people get to play the dmods of the contest?

Take a wild guess.

November 3rd

iplaydink, don't get too excited with my storytelling abilities. You will only get disappointed. A lot. Sorry about that.

But I think I managed to win some nice effects by having the story of that D-Mod be partly based on the "story" of a totally unrelated piece of music (that isn't even featured in the mod anywhere).

Real enough. Not the Hollywood version, though.

OK. give me 1-2 days.

mmk

@krisknox I was thinking about doing that, making something loosely based on a book or movie. But, I don't want to actually replicate someone elses idea, like what kyle said.

I was thinking I will just write out a story on paper first then turn that into a Dmod. This is the only part of making a Dmod I'm worried about. I know I will be able to figure out all the scripting and mapping and such....but all that isn't any good if the story sucks.

Try a near-death experience. The sheer slapping-force on your mind should augment your creativity for a short time.

Hmmm...maybe I'll try your idea last evilearl incase it doesn't go right.

When it comes to inspiration for stories and stuff for me, it often just happens, you know. It's kind of like what happens to me when I get a good idea for a song. I just randomly start singing some lyrics about what I'm thinking about during the day, then I'll race to grab a paper and pen and quickly jot down what I sung. At a later time I'll come back and expand on it, making it fit better, and eventually add music to it.

Often story writing seems to be like that. You get a great idea, immediately write it down, then later on you refine it and perfect it.

Never rush your story, and always make sure you have a complete story written out before you begin anything to do with your D-Mod. Trust me on that.

Synbi said: I've came up with many good story ideas while I wasn't really looking for them.

You can't really "force" inspiration. If you sit down and try to focus on coming up with an interesting story, chances are no matter how much you try, you'll end up with nothing, or something totally mediocre.

I find that impatience isn't the answer here. Having an open mind (not being too critical of your ability to came up with ideas, not being afraid to call some ideas bad and so on) rather is.

Amen to that! I think story-making also depends on how your' mind ticks. For me, I feel my mind lies dormant until it is pinged. One stimulus, though, and BOOM! it lights up like a city grid!

NOTE: Creative idea may be delayed by intoxication

Ed. I don't recall who said it, but one of those kick-ass dudes from Japan who you know you should listen to said that the best way to create a great game or story is to think about what you'd love to play or read - chances are that if you want it, so does everyone else.

Read books you wouldn't normally read, watch movies you wouldn't normally watch, travel places you wouldn't normally go to, watch the news, and talk to people you don't like. The more open minded you are, the better you are at artistic pursuits, hence better at design.

If you're incapable of this, just do what Krisknox said and copy people. It's the next best thing.

NOTE: Creative idea may be delayed by intoxication

Hmmm... I always thought getting drunk was a good way to get a lot of ideas. They won't sound nearly as good the following morning though.

Oh yes ideas, ideas - they lead you to all strange places when drunk X-D Like sleeping with your' head on the floor and your feet on the couch - seemed so heroic at the time...

That doesn't sound heroic even when you ARE drunk.

If you're incapable of this, just do what Krisknox said and copy people. It's the next best thing.

I never insinuate on copying people!! I only said to see how they wrote it. I guess that could be open to interpretation, so I'll explain in greater detail. You like a certain topic, you pursue it, learn more about it, and use your knowledge to form a base for characters. Next, you wait until inspiration strikes, and then you do your best to write a storyline for the Dmod.

On a side note, reading a lot of books will help your understanding of how things are written. You can't write a good story and have your characters say "Roflmao thx!" all the time, or to have them use slang or terms they;re not familiar with. Plain english (or whatever language you speak) is needed.

That doesn't sound heroic even when you ARE drunk.

It does if, after several other activities in an alcoholicised state, you let the Lady sleep in the bed

In most cases, the lady has ran away before the chance even comes. That is if the lady isn't a whore or anything.

Hold conversations with the pulsating neon cricket-worms that float through your bedroom singing songs of polyphonic doom.

Hold conversations with the pulsating neon cricket-worms that float through your bedroom singing songs of polyphonic doom.

This is the most helpful comment ever.

Edit: I did try getting a little tipsy for inspiration...but really that was to no avail. I just ended up eating mexican food and praying to the porcelian god.

Sounds like it should have worked.

If I write up a rough draft would anyone be interested in reading it and let me know what they think about it?

Edit:Sounds like it should have worked.

I have been trying to get alcohol to solve lifes problems but it just seems to make them worse...haha

You already came up with a story. D-Mod of Dink eating Mexican food and praying to the porcelian god.

Dink worships the Porcelain God; DDC gets angry.

And Mexican food is the last boss.

When I have trouble thinking, I just open up notepad and start brainstorming ideas and concepts. The idea isn't to come up with an awesome one right away, it's to spit out every idea you can think of to get on a roll of deeper thinking and eventually you should get something worthwhile.

Think about what you want the main character to be (good or evil / predetermined hero or average joe to become hero), what's the plot (evil wizard taking over world / rebellion against a tyrant king / bring peace to warring nations / saving damsel in distress), what sets off the adventure (family gets killed / king's quest / exploring the world to find purpose), those kinds of things.

Once you have a bunch of things and it's all laid in front of you, it makes it easier to choose from and then you have something to start with and build off of. You can do the same thing for coming up with unique NPCs, quests, plot twists, and pretty much anything. Once you start opening your mind it becomes easier. Well it works for me anyways.

Speaking of witch.... Maybe have a dmod were there are 2 paths, one path you become a villain, and the other a hero?

I had an idea for a DMOD you would play both a hero and a villain. Sortof like Cycles of Evil style taking turns between each one. I even had an intro made though I can't seem to find it anywhere (must've got scrapped). It was part of one of my better story ideas that will never see the light of day.

Seeing both sides could be very interesting.

@rabidwolf9 thanks...that sounds like what I'll do. I think I know what direction I'll go in now.

Thanks everyone who helped anwser!

Speaking of witch.... Maybe have a dmod were there are 2 paths, one path you become a villain, and the other a hero?

Fate of Destiny just so happens to have that concept in place, only with entire maps set out for the two separate paths.

A witch? Where? Prepare the stake!

A witch? Where? Prepare the stake!

BBQ!!

EXDEATH said Maybe have a dmod were there are 2 paths, one path you become a villain, and the other a hero?

Hey! Anyone remember Fable?

That was a really great game. Fable 2 wasn't so much.